The Hungarian Parliament Building (Országház, which translates to House of the Country) is one of the most amazing buildings in Budapest. Taken out of a fairy tale the Parliament in Budapest is best viewed in all its dazzle from the Buda side. It is one of the biggest Parliaments,with the oldest legislative buildings in Europe. It lies in Lajos Kossuth Square, stretching along the Danube and is currently the largest building in Hungary.
The architect, Imre Steindl, who unfortunately went blind before completion of the parliament, began construction in 1885 and the building was inaugurated on the 1000th anniversary of the country in 1896 and completed in 1904. Mátyás Szűrös declared the Hungarian Republic from the balcony facing Lajos Kossuth Square on 23d October in 1989.
The building took several years to construct, with 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40 kg of gold. It is said that the cost of the project would have been enough to build a town for 60,000 people. It is 268 m long and 123m wide, contains a 96 m high central dome, 691 and 10 courtyards, immense halls and majestically decorated corridors. Inside and outside, there are altogether 242 sculptures on the walls that include Hungarian rulers, Transylvanian leaders, pictures of coats of arms of kings and dukes, famous military people and lions.
When entering the Parliament, visitors can walk up great ornamental stairs, see frescoes on the ceiling and pass by the bust of the creator, Imre Steindl, in a wall niche.
When the Parliament is not in session, tours are offered in English, French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Japanese, Italian and Spanish.
The building itself can be toured in groups, led by guides, leaving every half an hour in the following time frames:
October 1 – April 30.
Monday-Saturday 08:00-16:00 and Sunday 08.00-14.00May 1 – September 30.
Monday-Friday 08.00-18.00, Saturday 08.00-16.00 and Sunday 08.00-14.00
For tours the adult fee is 2520 HUF, the student fee is 1260 HUF. Tickets can be purchased at gate #10, at the ticket office. Entrance is thought gate #4.
The post Budapest Parliament appeared first on Budapest Sightseeing.